Our Story

American Made. Montana Tough. 70 years of bringing our family to yours.

The doors to the present day location of Gusts of Big Timber opened in 1947 as Robbins & Gusts. After World War II, Mr. Robbins bought the location in Big Timber and sought out the help of Virgil Gust, whom had worked for him in South Dakota. In 1947, after serving in the Navy during World War II, Virgil came to Big Timber and partnered with Mr. Robbins. The partners named the store Robbins & Gust. During Mr. Robbins and Virgil’s partnership the two acquired other stores in Manhattan, Laurel, Livingston, and Conrad. In the late sixties Virgil took over sole ownership of the Big Timber, Manhattan and Laurel locations. During the seventies, Virgil parted with the Manhattan and Laurel stores focusing his time and effort on the store in Big Timber Montana, where his family resided.

Virgil and his wife, Jane, became embedded within the community, where they raised three beautiful children who attended Sweet Grass Country High School and eventually heading off to college to become Grizzlies and Bobcats. As the years went by others began to fade into retirement; Virgil would have done the same if not for his love for the customers. Over 70 years of service and to this day Virgil is still going strong. He just celebrated his 95th birthday and is still coming into work everyday with the same passion as his 25-year-old self. During February of 2014 the ownership of the store was entrusted into the hands of Virgil’s two daughters Susan St. Germain & Sara McFarland who have children of their own, each of whom has taken an interest in helping make the store what it is today. Truly making Gusts of Big Timber a family affair.